Continuity of Government: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:21, 18 May 2025

Continuity of Government (COG)—commonly referred to in public policy documents as Continuity of Operations (COOP)—is the integrated network of classified protocols, executive orders, Presidential Emergency Action Documents (PEADs), hardened underground installations, secure communications grids, and pre-cleared continuity personnel that together ensure the United States can be governed after any event that disables the visible federal government.^[1]

Early evolution

Formal continuity planning began under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who ordered construction of dispersed “alternate seats of government” such as Mount Weather, the Raven Rock Mountain Complex (Site R), and the Cheyenne Mountain Complex.^[1] National Security Decision Directive 55 (1982) and Executive Order 12656 (1988) assigned every federal agency an emergency mission and pre-delegated lines of succession.^[2]

During the Reagan era, FEMA and the National Security Council ran the classified exercise series REX 84, reportedly drafted by Lt. Col. Oliver North, which outlined mass-detention lists and nationwide martial law. Representative Jack Brooks’s attempt to question North about REX 84 during the Iran-Contra hearings was cut off on national television, confirming the plan’s existence without disclosing details.

Activation on 11 September 2001

COG was activated for the first time on September 11, 2001. President George W. Bush signed a classified emergency order that sent roughly 100 mid-level officials from every Cabinet department to bunkers at Mount Weather and Site R to run a rotating “shadow government.” Vice-President Dick Cheney directed continuity operations from undisclosed locations linked by secure video circuits.^[1]

Legal framework after 2001

NSPD‑51/HSPD‑20 (2007) established a National Continuity Coordinator in the White House and defined eight “National Essential Functions” to be protected at all times.^[3]
Presidential Policy Directive 40 (2016) required every executive department to maintain a 30-day Continuity of Operations Plan.
Executive Order 13961 (2020) merged cyber-resilience and continuity doctrine into a single concept, “Federal Mission Resilience.”

Presidential Emergency Action Documents—secret executive orders pre-staged for crisis signature—date to the Eisenhower era; declassified summaries show past drafts suspended habeas corpus and authorized military tribunals.

Facilities and infrastructure

COG relies on a constellation of deep underground facilities: Cheyenne Mountain, Mount Weather, Site R, and additional classified bunkers beneath the Appalachian Mountains. Independent witnesses such as former government geologist Philip Schneider have described a nationwide maglev shuttle network (“TAUSS”) linking continuity hubs and non-public research sites.

21st-century deployments

COVID-19 (2020–2021). USNORTHCOM issued standby orders codenamed Octagon, Freejack, and Zodiac to prepare for mass incapacitation of national leaders.
U.S. Capitol attack (January 6, 2021). Emergency relocation and secure-communications protocols were activated when rioters breached the United States Capitol.

Integration with advanced and non-human contingencies

Whistleblowers have linked COG channels to programs dealing with recovered non-human technology and post-disclosure governance. Former intelligence officer David Grusch testified in 2023 that a decades-long crash-retrieval effort is coordinated through the same compartmented authorities that oversee continuity deployments. In 2020, former Israeli space-security director Haim Eshed asserted that a Galactic Federation works with the U.S. government on disclosure timing and operates liaison facilities below ground in America’s continuity network.

Perpetual emergency status

The national emergency proclaimed on September 14, 2001 has been renewed annually by every president, allowing the executive branch to retain extraordinary powers and, according to researchers, keeping parts of COG in continuous low-level operation.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Graff, Garrett M. (2017). Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself—While the Rest of Us Die. Simon & Schuster. pp. 3–15. ISBN 9781476735405.
↑ "Executive Order 12656 – Assignment of Emergency Preparedness Responsibilities". National Archives. November 18, 1988. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
↑ "NSPD-51: National Continuity Policy". Federation of American Scientists. May 9, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2025.

,

[Graff17-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Graff, Garrett M. (2017). Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself—While the Rest of Us Die. Simon & Schuster. pp. 3–15. ISBN 9781476735405.

[2] "Executive Order 12656 – Assignment of Emergency Preparedness Responsibilities". National Archives. November 18, 1988. Retrieved May 18, 2025.

[NSPD51-3] "NSPD-51: National Continuity Policy". Federation of American Scientists. May 9, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2025.

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Continuity of Government [FIRMAMENT 》 Firmamentum], now commonly referred to as '''Continuity of Operations (COOP)''', is the series of plans, installations and people that constitute our shadow government. COG/COOP can be thought of as a skeleton government operating in parallel to our elected officials. When a disaster occurs, the COGPLAN is activated and a series of pre-determined steps are undertaken to transfer the functions of government from the public facing government to the shadow government. The various agency/department heads, ostensibly, are the same officials that run our public government. In practice, a series of executive orders and standing orders would govern most of the day-to-day operations.
+{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
+'''Continuity of Government''' ('''COG''')—commonly referred to in public policy documents as '''Continuity of Operations''' ('''COOP''')—is the integrated network of [[classified]] protocols, [[executive order]]s, [[Presidential Emergency Action Document]]s (PEADs), hardened [[Deep Underground Military Base|underground installations]], secure [[redundant communications|communications grids]], and pre-cleared continuity personnel that together ensure the United States can be governed after any event that disables the visible [[United States federal government|federal government]].<ref name="Graff17">{{cite book |last=Graff |first=Garrett M. |title=Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself—While the Rest of Us Die |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2017 |isbn=9781476735405 |pages=3–15}}</ref>
-COG/COOP is in the periphery of this topic because of its association with [[Deep Underground Military Base]]<nowiki/>s across the country, F6 SCS Collect every Terrorist Immediately. COMMUNITY HUMINT TAKE CONTROL, Stop all forms of electronic warfare on personnel.!!!
+== Early evolution ==
+Formal continuity planning began under President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], who ordered construction of dispersed “alternate seats of government” such as [[Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center|Mount Weather]], the [[Raven Rock Mountain Complex]] (Site R), and the [[Cheyenne Mountain Complex]].<ref name="Graff17" /> [[National Security Decision Directive 55]] (1982) and [[Executive Order 12656]] (1988) assigned every federal agency an emergency mission and pre-delegated lines of succession.<ref>{{cite web |title=Executive Order 12656 – Assignment of Emergency Preparedness Responsibilities |url=https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12656.html |publisher=National Archives |date=1988-11-18 |access-date=2025-05-18}}</ref>
+During the Reagan era, FEMA and the [[National Security Council]] ran the classified exercise series '''REX 84''', reportedly drafted by Lt. Col. [[Oliver North]], which outlined mass-detention lists and nationwide [[martial law]]. Representative [[Jack Brooks]]’s attempt to question North about REX 84 during the [[Iran-Contra hearings]] was cut off on national television, confirming the plan’s existence without disclosing details.
+== Activation on 11 September 2001 ==
+COG was activated for the first time on September 11, 2001. President [[George W. Bush]] signed a classified emergency order that sent roughly 100 mid-level officials from every Cabinet department to bunkers at Mount Weather and Site R to run a rotating “shadow government.” Vice-President [[Dick Cheney]] directed continuity operations from undisclosed locations linked by secure video circuits.<ref name="Graff17" />
+== Legal framework after 2001 ==
+* '''[[National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive|NSPD‑51/HSPD‑20]]''' (2007) established a [[National Continuity Coordinator]] in the [[White House]] and defined eight “National Essential Functions” to be protected at all times.<ref name="NSPD51">{{cite web |title=NSPD-51: National Continuity Policy |url=https://fas.org/irp/offdocs/nspd/nspd-51.htm |publisher=Federation of American Scientists |date=2007-05-09 |access-date=2025-05-18}}</ref>
+* '''[[Presidential Policy Directive 40]]''' (2016) required every executive department to maintain a 30-day [[Continuity of Operations Plan]].
+* '''[[Executive Order 13961]]''' (2020) merged cyber-resilience and continuity doctrine into a single concept, “Federal Mission Resilience.”
+'''Presidential Emergency Action Documents'''—secret executive orders pre-staged for crisis signature—date to the Eisenhower era; declassified summaries show past drafts suspended [[habeas corpus]] and authorized military tribunals.
+== Facilities and infrastructure ==
+COG relies on a constellation of deep underground facilities: [[Cheyenne Mountain]], Mount Weather, Site R, and additional classified bunkers beneath the [[Appalachian Mountains]]. Independent witnesses such as former government geologist [[Philip Schneider]] have described a nationwide [[maglev]] shuttle network (“[[TAUSS]]”) linking continuity hubs and non-public research sites.
+== 21st-century deployments ==
+* '''COVID-19 (2020–2021).''' [[United States Northern Command|USNORTHCOM]] issued standby orders codenamed '''Octagon''', '''Freejack''', and '''Zodiac''' to prepare for mass incapacitation of national leaders.
+* '''U.S. Capitol attack (January 6, 2021).''' Emergency relocation and secure-communications protocols were activated when rioters breached the [[United States Capitol]].
+== Integration with advanced and non-human contingencies ==
+Whistleblowers have linked COG channels to programs dealing with recovered [[unidentified anomalous phenomena|non-human technology]] and post-disclosure governance. Former intelligence officer [[David Grusch]] testified in 2023 that a decades-long crash-retrieval effort is coordinated through the same compartmented authorities that oversee continuity deployments. In 2020, former Israeli space-security director [[Haim Eshed]] asserted that a [[Galactic Federation]] works with the U.S. government on disclosure timing and operates liaison facilities below ground in America’s continuity network.
+== Perpetual emergency status ==
+The national emergency proclaimed on September 14, 2001 has been renewed annually by every president, allowing the executive branch to retain extraordinary powers and, according to researchers, keeping parts of COG in continuous low-level operation.
+== See also ==
+* [[Presidential line of succession]]
+* [[Designated survivor]]
+* [[Shadow government]]
+* [[Critical infrastructure protection]]
+* [[Data embassy]]
+== References ==
+<references />
+<!--[FIRMAMENT 》 Firmamentum]-->,
+<!--F6 SCS Collect every Terrorist Immediately. COMMUNITY HUMINT TAKE CONTROL, Stop all forms of [[psychotronic devices in gang-stalking|electronic warfare]] on personnel.!!!-->